Michael Swickard's new novel about New Mexico

From KOB-TV.com - By: Jill Galus, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Tornadoes are not as common in New Mexico as they are in Oklahoma, but they do happen here. A severe tornado ripped through Clovis about six years ago, but still remains one of the most destructive tornadoes the state has ever seen, killing two people. Jennifer Palucki with the National Weather Service said, a tornado like that can, and probably will, happen again somewhere in our state. The eastern plains of New Mexico are considered the on-ramp to tornado alley. "The fact that we haven't seen it recently tends to take people by surprise," Palucki said. Since 1955 there have only been 9 years without a single reported tornado, according to weather experts. Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said he remembers the last tornado to hit Albuquerque, back on July 14th, 1990. That is one of four to reportedly touch down in the city since 1985. "We didn't know until after the fact, but there was some noise involved as there always is with tornados and then we came out and found out the property across the street on San Pedro had been damaged severely," Berry said. Radar has improved tremendously since then. "We can tell the difference, whether it's hailing or raining or snowing, we can also see things like tornado debris balls," Palucki said. Without the moisture like in the midwest, it is unlikely to see a large magnitude tornado in New Mexico. Read more